Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Congressional Black Caucus substitute budget resolution and commend Chairman Mfume and the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership and vision in presenting this alternative. Essentially this alternative budget proposes to accelerate savings from defense accounts and accelerate investments in education, training, health, and social services. This alternative is about investing in people and our future. The substitute assumes greater funding for job training and job creation--it responds to the goals of both welfare reform and crime prevention. It offers hope to the young people of America's cities. Expansion of the Jobs Corps is an example of building on what we know works best. For 30 years, this program has helped disadvantaged young people turn their lives around. As you all know, job training programs are expensive, however, these programs are far less expensive than housing unskilled young people in prisons after they turn to crime. This budget offers us the opportunity to prevent crime and give hope to American youth. Our Federal budget is a statement of our national values. This alternative budget resolution represents the best of the American dream. I urge my colleagues to support the Mfume substitute.”